Preparation of magnetic Fe3O4@PDA/CuS core-shell nanocomposite as a green photocatalyst

• Published in: Synthetic metals Vol. 292; p. 117230
• Main Authors: Shang, Ludan, Li, Wenlong, Wang, Xinna, Ma, Lijuan, Li, Ling, Duan, Qian, Li, Yanhui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-01-2023
• Subjects: CuS; Fe3O4; Magnetic; Photocatalyst; Polydopamine; Recyclable; Fe3O4; CuS; Polydopamine; Magnetic; Photocatalyst; Recyclable
• ISSN: 0379-6779; 1879-3290
• DOI: 10.1016/j.synthmet.2022.117230

To solve the emerging aromatic organic pollutants in aqueous environment, in this study, the efficient recyclable core-shell structured photocatalyst Fe3O4@PDA/CuS was prepared by in situ reduction method. Firstly, Fe3O4 as cores were prepared to provide magnetic recovery. Through the self-polymerization of dopamine (DA), polydopamine (PDA) was coated on Fe3O4 as shells to protect Fe3O4 cores. Then, Cu2+ coordinated with PDA on the surface of Fe3O4@PDA and in situ reduced by Na2S to obtain core-shell structural Fe3O4@PDA/CuS with CuS uniformly growing on the PDA. CuS with a narrow band gap will endow Fe3O4 @PDA/CuS excellent photocatalytic performance for organic dyes degradation. The decomposition rate of methylene blue (MB) reached to 92.1 % within 180 min under visible light irradiation of Fe3O4@PDA/CuS as photocatalyst without any cocatalyst. When pH= 10, the decomposition rate of MB can reach to 92.7 % in 60 min, indicated Fe3O4@PDA/CuS was more suitable for use under alkaline conditions. The capture experiment determined that·OH was the main active substance. This also explained that under alkaline conditions, numerous OH- was conducive to the formation of ·OH, thus accelerated the degradation rate. And the decomposition rate of MB by Fe3O4@PDA/CuS can still reach 83.95 % after reused three times.
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•Fe3O4@PDA/CuS was prepared by a simple in situ reduction method.•Fe3O4@PDA/CuS was more suitable for use under alkaline conditions.•Fe3O4@PDA/CuS exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity towards organic dye without cocatalyst.•Fe3O4@PDA/CuS can be separating and recycling to avoid secondary pollution.